The results of the third survey of the Swiss Corona Stress Study refer to the period from November 11-19, 2020, during which 11,612 people from all over Switzerland participated. Stress levels have increased significantly compared to the first survey during lockdown in April 2020. While the proportion of people reporting maximum stress levels was around 11% during the April lockdown, it rose to 20% in the second pandemic wave in November. The increase in stress was accompanied by an increase in depressive symptoms. The main drivers of psychological stress and depressive symptoms included burden due to a Covid-19-related change in work, school, or education, Covid-19-related financial losses, and fears about the future. These stressors have increased significantly, compared to the time of the April lockdown. Further factors were the fear that someone in the closest circle would become seriously ill or die from COVID-19, as well as the burden of social restrictions and burden from an increase in conflicts at home. While the proportion of respondents with moderately severe or severe (PHQ-9 ≥15) depressive symptoms was 3% before the pandemic, 9% during the April lockdown, and 12% during May, it increased to 18% in November. The risk for moderately severe or severe depressive symptoms was associated with age (with younger people showing the highest risk) and was increased in people experiencing financial losses due to the pandemic. In addition, people from the French-speaking part of Switzerland, which was most affected by the pandemic during the second wave, were at higher risk than people from the rest of Switzerland.

The last survey of the Swiss Corona Stress Study in November 2020 has shown that the proportion of respondents with moderately severe to severe depressive symptoms was 18%, with the youngest group of 14-24 year olds being the most affected at 29%. Between 8 and 24 March 2021, an additional survey was conducted in the German speaking part of Northwestern Switzerland among 393 high school students with the majority being between 16 and 19 years old. The anonymous survey was completed by 97.5% of the students. The proportion of respondents with moderately severe to severe depressive symptoms was 27%. In this survey, additional questions were asked about school, social life and vaccination. The most significant stressor associated with depressive symptoms was perceived school pressure. 46% of the respondents indicated they were very or extremely stressed because of the pressure of school. Furthermore, the perception that school pressure has increased due to the pandemic (missed material due to closures, quarantine) was strongly correlated with depressive symptoms. Other factors included worries about poorer education or job opportunities and worries about damage to the social network. An additional factor analysis confirmed that stressors related to school build up the factor with the strongest correlation with depressive symptoms (with a large effect size).Other results- 69% of respondents would get vaccinated if the vaccine were available to them.- 41% of respondents would see the change to distance learning as a relief, 46% as a burden and 13% neither.- Only 4% of respondents said they were not at all afraid of infecting their parents/grandparents or another close person belonging to a risk group.- 29% of respondents have at least a moderate to severe fear of suffering from Long-COVID in case of infection.